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Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, Receives 2006 Copher Memorial Award
from the association
ADA REPORTS
Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, Receives 2006 Copher Memorial Award
T
he Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award is the highest award bestowed upon a member of the American Dietetic Association. The 2006 award is presented to Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, in recognition of her contributions to the Association and to the profession of dietetics. For nearly 5 decades, Fitz has been professionally devoted to the promotion of food and nutrition professionals and the advancement of the profession. At a national, state, and district level, she is a leader who has inspired countless numbers of dietetic practitioners to become leaders themselves. As a forward-thinking mentor, she has carved out innovative career opportunities for practitioners who exemplified her dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration, value for diversity, and professional excellence. Very early in her academic career, Fitz was appointed dean of the School of Allied Health at the University of Connecticut. During her tenure in the position, she showed her pioneering spirit and vision for the future by initiating the development of a significant set of outcomes that strengthened interdisciplinary education. Fitz established the first interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in Allied Health, which was federally supported and experienced a 200% growth in enrollment over a 2-year period; she developed the first accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Cytogenetics; and she established the Center for Health Promotion, all while spearheading a research initiative throughout the School of Allied Health that emphasized excellence in research and graduate education, resulting in expanded qualifications for faculty scholarship. At the time of her promotion to professor in 1986, Fitz was also named the Associate Director and Faculty Associate for the Travelers Center on doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.09.028
Polly A. Fitz Aging in Hartford, CT, where she brought her interdisciplinary vision and high standards to bear on health promotion in aging. She also went on to launch the coordinated undergraduate programs in dietetics at the School of Allied Health, and served as program director for 4 years, developing a program that exemplifies the model of integration between classroom and supervised practice experience necessary to produce a competent entry-level practitioner. After retirement from academia, Fitz went into business through joint development and ownership of Health Training Resources, a corporation committed to food and nutrition professionals’ life-long learning. Through Health Training Resources, Fitz developed and presented nationally on new skills for health professionals to work more effectively in groups in the areas of mentoring and coaching. Even after selling her business and retiring in 2003, Fitz has remained active in dietetics, giving her time to ADA and continuing to consult with professional groups; counsel universities on dietetics program devel-
© 2006 by the American Dietetic Association
opment, interdisciplinary health professions education, and leadership; and serve on the advisory board of the Dietetics Program at the University of Connecticut School of Allied Health, the Dietetics Program at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, and the Yale New Haven Dietetic Internship Program. Throughout her career, Fitz has enthusiastically served ADA in a number of roles—as a committee member and Board member, chair of the ADA Foundation, chair of the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and, in 1997-98, as ADA president. Her leadership and vision, specifically related to governing structure, has contributed to significant outcomes for ADA, including the restructuring of the House of Delegates. She also administered the implementation of the first business plan for the ADA Foundation with a reorganization that emphasized funding and support of dietetics scholarships and research. During her ADA presidency, Fitz worked to heighten recognition for dietetics and to regain the emphasis on food in dietetic practice by supporting food and culinary as well as nutrition expertise, eventually founding the Food and Culinary Professionals dietetic practice group. In a letter of support for Fitz’s nomination, seven past ADA presidents came together to write that, “Polly Fitz has served as a trailblazing leader who initiated many pioneering activities that have paved the way for the future of the dietetics profession . . . . She is not afraid to take on the challenges of change and has chaired task forces and commissions where difficult decisions had to be made. Her skill lies in working with the larger group to build consensus, shape the change, and implement ideas together.” For these reasons and many others, Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, is the 2006 recipient of the Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
1885
ADA REPORTS
Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, Receives 2006 Copher Memorial Award
T
he Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award is the highest award bestowed upon a member of the American Dietetic Association. The 2006 award is presented to Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, in recognition of her contributions to the Association and to the profession of dietetics. For nearly 5 decades, Fitz has been professionally devoted to the promotion of food and nutrition professionals and the advancement of the profession. At a national, state, and district level, she is a leader who has inspired countless numbers of dietetic practitioners to become leaders themselves. As a forward-thinking mentor, she has carved out innovative career opportunities for practitioners who exemplified her dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration, value for diversity, and professional excellence. Very early in her academic career, Fitz was appointed dean of the School of Allied Health at the University of Connecticut. During her tenure in the position, she showed her pioneering spirit and vision for the future by initiating the development of a significant set of outcomes that strengthened interdisciplinary education. Fitz established the first interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in Allied Health, which was federally supported and experienced a 200% growth in enrollment over a 2-year period; she developed the first accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Cytogenetics; and she established the Center for Health Promotion, all while spearheading a research initiative throughout the School of Allied Health that emphasized excellence in research and graduate education, resulting in expanded qualifications for faculty scholarship. At the time of her promotion to professor in 1986, Fitz was also named the Associate Director and Faculty Associate for the Travelers Center on doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2006.09.028
Polly A. Fitz Aging in Hartford, CT, where she brought her interdisciplinary vision and high standards to bear on health promotion in aging. She also went on to launch the coordinated undergraduate programs in dietetics at the School of Allied Health, and served as program director for 4 years, developing a program that exemplifies the model of integration between classroom and supervised practice experience necessary to produce a competent entry-level practitioner. After retirement from academia, Fitz went into business through joint development and ownership of Health Training Resources, a corporation committed to food and nutrition professionals’ life-long learning. Through Health Training Resources, Fitz developed and presented nationally on new skills for health professionals to work more effectively in groups in the areas of mentoring and coaching. Even after selling her business and retiring in 2003, Fitz has remained active in dietetics, giving her time to ADA and continuing to consult with professional groups; counsel universities on dietetics program devel-
© 2006 by the American Dietetic Association
opment, interdisciplinary health professions education, and leadership; and serve on the advisory board of the Dietetics Program at the University of Connecticut School of Allied Health, the Dietetics Program at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, and the Yale New Haven Dietetic Internship Program. Throughout her career, Fitz has enthusiastically served ADA in a number of roles—as a committee member and Board member, chair of the ADA Foundation, chair of the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and, in 1997-98, as ADA president. Her leadership and vision, specifically related to governing structure, has contributed to significant outcomes for ADA, including the restructuring of the House of Delegates. She also administered the implementation of the first business plan for the ADA Foundation with a reorganization that emphasized funding and support of dietetics scholarships and research. During her ADA presidency, Fitz worked to heighten recognition for dietetics and to regain the emphasis on food in dietetic practice by supporting food and culinary as well as nutrition expertise, eventually founding the Food and Culinary Professionals dietetic practice group. In a letter of support for Fitz’s nomination, seven past ADA presidents came together to write that, “Polly Fitz has served as a trailblazing leader who initiated many pioneering activities that have paved the way for the future of the dietetics profession . . . . She is not afraid to take on the challenges of change and has chaired task forces and commissions where difficult decisions had to be made. Her skill lies in working with the larger group to build consensus, shape the change, and implement ideas together.” For these reasons and many others, Polly A. Fitz, MA, RD, CD-N, is the 2006 recipient of the Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
1885